Page 46 of Betrayed Mate

“The shifters didn’t alert you?” Lucinda slid her dagger back into its sheath. “What good is it for us to have an ally who isn’t kept informed by their ownkind?”

Queen Ambrosia's entire body stilled to the point she didn’t even seem to move in order to breathe. Her gray irises filled with crimson, giving her a dangerous edge. “You’ve made your displeasure aboutmydecision known. One more word of disagreement, and I’ll ensure that the only job you’re offered is scrubbing the toilets. Do you understand?”

Hands clenched at her side, Lucinda rasped, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I suspect I wasn’t informed because Blackwood is making a move to take over the shifter throne.” Ryker tugged on his tight black shirt, which already hugged his muscles. “He just texted a message to local shifter alphas, requesting a meeting in three days’ time. If I hadn’t found Ember near death in the river, I’d have shown up at the meeting uninformed and ill-advised. He’s setting me up to make it appear as if I don’t have the knowledge or influence to lead the shifters.”

Cold realization settled into my bones. I hadn’t even considered the ramifications of Reid’s plans. I just assumed he hadn’t informed Ryker because he didn’t have his number, but Ryker’s explanation made more sense, especially since Reid had been able to notify Ryker of the meeting that would be happening soon.

“That’s one thing I appreciate about vampires.” The queen tossed her hair over her shoulder. “They’re content with what they have, and I don’t have a bunch of people vying to kill me and take over my position.”

Raven clasped her hands. “That’s because we all love and respect you, my queen.” Her voice trembled with affection.

“And I cherish each one of you, sweet child.” The queen smiled fondly and took a deep breath. “Which is why we need to move the conversation along. Even though I hate what happened and feel for Ember, I want to hear about what you found at the vampire nest in the city.”

“When we arrived, only one vampire remained alive and was on the brink of death.” Gage took in a shaky breath. “She wasn’t able to provide us any information.”

“Did you not find a single attacker there?” Queen Ambrosia crossed her legs. “What scents and signs of struggle were there?”

Ryker launched into the story, detailing everything we’d seen and experienced. “There was a faint smell of shifter that vanished within minutes.”

“It must have been the Blackwoods, using the witch affiliated with their pack to mask their scents.” Bella moved to the wooden chair at the end of the table and sat. “We can’t stand idly and not respond.”

Vampires blatantly attacking a pack would cause a war between the species, which might be exactly what the Blackwoods were going for, but still not ideal overall.

“That’s probably what the Blackwoods want.” Xander rolled his eyes. “You’ll make them look like the victims.”

Martin wrinkled his nose the way I would if I smelled something foul. “The redhead saw the Blackwoods attack her pack. She can tell everyone we were defending ourselves.”

I laughed before I could stop myself. The queen and everyone in the room stared at me.

“Of course a shifter doesn’t want to protect vampires,” Lucinda sneered. “Howsurprising.”

“That’s not it.” I’d never imagined I could hate someone I’d just met in so little time, but I would gladly rip out this bitch’s throat given the opportunity. “The day before the Blackwoods attacked, Reidrejectedme publicly. And if I were asked whether I saw one of them kill a member of my pack, I couldn’t say yes because I never actually saw it happen since I was trying to protect my sister. I did see him lunge toward one of them. Plus, when we reached the vampire nest, I didn’t recognize any particular scent that would have confirmed it was one of them. My word would donothingfor your case.” A week ago, the details probably wouldn’t have mattered, but today, they did. Reid had changed my world in the blink of an eye and in more ways than I’d ever thought possible.

“So neither of ouralliesare respected in their community.Lovely.” Martin scratched his sparse, gray-speckled beard.

The queen hit one hand against the velvet throne and dug her black nails into the material. “Our allies are someof the strongest in their community, and theycangain the respect needed when the time arrives. Are you questioning my judgment?”

“Of course not, my queen.” Martin lowered his head. “I apologize if it came across that way.”

Raven crossed her arms, glaring at the three guards. “You know how shifters are—the strongest always rise to the top. Respect is earned by the raw force of alpha magic.”

“Besides, if the shifters go too long without a royal leader, their magic will begin to suffer, which means we need to take advantage of the upcoming meeting.” Queen Ambrosia tapped her fingers along the new tears in the armrests.

A jolt shot through me. Even though Dad and my pack had known, the information was heavily guarded, withheld from most shifters for fear that someone would reveal it to the other species. We’d all wanted to keep the connection between our ruler—the strongest of all alphas—and our wolf magic a secret so the other species couldn’t use it against us.

Clearly, the secrecy had been in vain because the vampire queen knew all about it and had thrown it out there carelessly.

Queen Ambrosia laughed. “The face each of the wolf shifters is making is hilarious. I’ve been alive forcenturies. Do you really think I wouldn’t have accumulated such knowledge in that time?”

That was a fair point, but still. I had a hard time fathoming why any knowledgeable wolf shifter would have informed the vampire queen of such information. “Of course not, but I’m a little confused as to why you’d want to help us instead of preventing someone from rising to rule.”

Ryker’s head snapped my way, and he frowned while Kendric, Xander, and Gage fidgeted in their spots.

She tilted her head and blinked, scanning me. “I appreciate your bluntness. Not many would dare to ask such a direct question.”

Gage mashed his lips together, trying to hide either a scowl or a smile.

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